Pedal lock



June 21, 1927. 1533178 J. H. HAMMOND, JR

PEDAL LOCK Filed Nov. 30. 1925 fav@ .71

Patented June 21, 1227.

UNlTED STATES JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

:PEDAL Lock.

Application filed. November 3.0, S1925. Serial No. 72,099.

This invention relates to improvements in pedal controls for musicalinstruments.

The invention has as its main object the provision of a piano pedal foroperating cert-ain utilities in a musical inst-ruinent of the pianofortetype, and an important feature of the inventionis to provide a simpleand efficient locking mechanism cooperating with the pedal. j HAccording to one feature of the invention, the utility to be operatedmay be controlled in accordance with the movement of the pedal toprovide for desired musical effects. Another feature of the inventionrelates to Vf the provision of a pivoted arm having' a notch forengaging the pedal to maintain the pedal andthe utility controlledthereby in the off-normal position.V

Still another feature or the invention reu lates to the provisionv of alatch for engag- Y ing the free end of the arm to maintain the arm in adesired position with reference to the pedal.

ther objects will appear from theifoli lowing description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in whichV Figure 1 is anelevation partly in section of a pedal mechanism embodying features ofthe invention shown in depressed position and with one of the lockingdevices in locked position;

Figure 2 is a similar viewl with a pedal in the upper position;y

Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure l is a detailed cross section of a portion of the mechanism ofFigures 1 and 2 with both locking devices latched.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

In the following description and claims7 parts will be identified byspecific names for convenience of expression, but they are in'- tendedto be as generic in their application to similar parts or equivalentconstruction as the art will permit.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a utility 10 which is' to beoperated and which may form part of a conventional soft pedal action,sustenuto action or loud pedal action of a piano. The utility 10 isoperated by means of a rocking lever 11. The lever 11 is looselymounted. for rotation on a horizontal shaft 12 secured in a conventionalpedal block 13. This block 13 may be supported on the lower end ofsuitable upright members suoli Vas la which depend from the body of thepiano casing (not shown). The inner end of tl e lev i" 11 within vthepedal block 13 engages the' utility 10 and the 'outer end 15 is formedto serve as a convenient rest forthe foot of the operator.

F or normally maintaining the rocking lever 11 in yone of its' positionsas shown in Figure 2, therer is provided a spring 2O securedy at one endby means of bolts such as 21, and engages at its other end the lowerface ofthe pedal 11. A strip of vfelt 22 is provided on the block 13 tocontact witlrthe upper face of the lever 11, so as to provide a cushionfor the pedal in its uppermost position.

A stationary bracket 25 is securedto the lower surface of the pedalblock 13 'and there is pivotally mounted thereon ran arm 26 whichextends through a slot 27 in the pedal 11. The arm 26 is provided at oneedge with a shoulder or notch 32 which enp gages the lever 11, asclearly shown inFigure 1. A retractile spring 28 is secured at one ofits ends to the lower end ofthe arm 26. and at its other end to a lug 29integrall with the bracket 25. AFor engaging the free 'end of thepivoted arm to maintain the arm in one of its positions., there isAproi'fided a secondary'latch comprising a 'bracket 30 secured to theupper portion of the' pedal block 13. A secondary catch 31 is pivotedthereto and is arranged to latch the upper end of the arm 26.

The arrangement is such that the foot of the operator can be readilybrought into contact with the arm 26 or with the arm 31 as it maybenecessary.

In operation, when the rocking lever 11 is depressed at its front end bythe foot of the musician, as shown in Figure `1 of the drawings, theutility 10 is raised into operative position. Vxhen the rocking lever 11has been moved sufficiently for the notch or shoulder V32 of the arm 26to engage the upper face of the rocking lever 11 the arm 26 snaps intoplace by virtue of the spring 28. In this way the utility may be held inthe operated position as long as may be desired without the necessity ofthe inusician maintaining a constant` pressure on the rocking lever 11.

When it is desired to release the rocking lever 11, the musicianmoveshis foot into the position shown in Figure 2, thus striking thefree end of the arm 26 and disengag- Cal ing it from the rocking lever11. The rocking lever may then be moved upwardly under the action ot'the spring 20, thus restoring the utility lO.

It the musician desires to use the pedal Without its being locked, hepushes the arm 26 into the position shown in Figure 1l, until the catch3l drops over the end of the arm 26.v Thus the arm 25 will not engagethe rocking lever 1l, and the rocking lever may be moved freely underthe control of the foot as may be desired. To release the arm 26 themusician lifts his ioot to raise the catch l, thereby allowing the arm26 to be released under the action ot the spring 28. Thus it Will beseen that an extremely simple device tor controlling a utility may beprovide-d. rChe utility may be operated or released under directcontrol, or it may be locked in abnormal position. The locking devicesare easily operated, and may be selectivelyV controlled by themusic-ians toot.

The invention upon Which this application is based is broader than thespecific einbodiment shown and described for the purpose of illustratingat least one ot' the Ways in which it may be employed. The scope of theinvention is therefore to be understood as not being limited by thepresent specic description. l intend no limitations other than thoseimposed by the claims.

What is claimed isl. A piano pedal for operating a utility comprising alined horizontal shaft, a roching lever loosely mounted thereon 'forrotation in a vertical plane, the inner end of said lever beingoperatively connected to theutility, a spring lor normally maintainingsaid lever' in position .so that its outer end is at the upper end otits travel, said lever having a slot, a pivoted arm extending throughsaid slot and having a notch to engage the lever when the outer end ofthe lever has been depressed, a retractile spring for maintainingthepivoted arm in position so that the notch engages the lever, anda pivoted latch 'for engaging a free end of .said

normal position, a stationary bracket, an arm pivoted thereto andextending through the slot or" the lever and having a notch ior engagingthe pedal to maintain the lever in the off-normal position, aret-ractile spring tor maintaining the arm in one position, and a. latchtor engaging the tree end ot' said arm to maintain the arm in adifferent position.

3. A piano pedal for operating a utility comprising a` rocking leverrotatable in a vertical plane, one end of said leverbeing operativelyconnected to the utility, a. spring for normally maintaining said pedalin one position, said lever having a slot, ay pivoted arm extendingthrough said slot and having al notch to engage the lever When in a`diiierent position, a retractile spring for maint-aining the pivoted armin position so that the notch engages the lever, and a pivoted latch forengaging a free end of sai-d arm to maintain the arm in inactiveposition.

Signed at New Yori; in the county ot New York and State oi New York this27th day oi' November A. D. 1925. Y

JOHN HAYS HAlvlMO'ND, Je.

Gij

